Mystery Friday Foto #33 Solved: Ralph DePalma with a Mercer at the 1913 Indy 500
The Walter McCarthy archives once again challenged you to solve this weekend's mystery foto of a famous race car driver before a big race.
Answers to the Mystery Foto questions:
Identify:
-The race car driver
Ralph De Palma with mechanician Rupert Jeffkins
-The race car (Hint; It is NOT Al Velocci next to his 1918 Fulton truck)
#21 Mercer Special
-The location, race & date
1913 Indy 500, Indianapolis, Indiana, May 30, 1913
-What was the outcome of the race for the car and driver?
Dropped out of the race in the 18th lap due to cylinder problem, finishing 23rd.
Kudos question: Link the foto to the Vanderbilt Cup races
Driving a Mercedes Ralph DePalma finished second in the 1911 Vanderbilt, won 1912 and 1914 and finished 4th 1915.
Comments (10)
Congrats to David Miller, Art Kleiner, Ken Parrotte, Steve Lucas and Brian McCarthy for identifying Ralph DePalma,
Kudos to Art Kleiner, Ken Parrotte, Brian McCarthy and Steve Lucas for recognizing DePalma's four Vanderbilt Cup Races.
Enjoy,
Howard Kroplick
Close-up
Comments
This is Ralph DePalma standing next to his Mercer race car. This was May 30th, 1913 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway for the 3rd Indy 500 race. Ralph did not finish the race because of a burned bearing after the 15th lap. French driver Jules Goux ended up winning the race. However, my vote goes to Ralph for best hair.
Driver: Ralph DePalma (with mechanician Rupert Jeffkins)
Car: Mercer
Location: Indianapolis Speedway, Indy 500, May 30, 1913
Outcome: Dropped out of the race in the 18th lap due to cylinder problem
Link to VCR: DePalma raced in the 1911, 12, 14 and 15 races.
Photos courtesy of indianamemory.com, indianahistory.org, the Detroit Public Library and the Brooklyn Daily Eagle.
Additional documentation. First photo is of the start of the race, second highlights DePalma and his Mercer.
One last photo.
Ralph DePalma
Riding Mechanic was Andy Vollman
May 30, 1913 (Friday) Indianapolis 500
#21 Mercer
Start 12th finished 23rd after 15 laps. Out with bearing failure.
There was no 1913 Vanderbilt Cup.
Driving a Mercedes Ralph DePalma finished second in the 1911 Vanderbilt, won 1912 and 1914 and finished 4th 1915
I think that’s Ralph DePalma with the #21 Mercer racer at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway for the 3rd. Indy 500 on May 30, 1913. DePalma did not finish but was listed at number 23. DePalma raced in the 1911, 1912, 1914, and 1915 Vanderbilt Cup Races, winning in 1912 and 1914.
Hope my answers show up on Monday Night/Tuesday Morning because my mind formulated 3 possible locations - Maybe this photo was captured at the 1912 or 1915 Indy 500 race. Ralph DePalma participated in these races driving Mercedes cars. He had the lead in 1912, but towards the end a piston cracked, and had to push his car to the finish line. He won in 1915. Neither of his Mercedes matches the car in the Mystery Foto. Ralph is posing for the photo next to another driver’s car, not the car he drove. Scenery in the background makes me think of Indianapolis.
The man to Ralph’s right resembles Edward Hearne. Both he and Ralph participated in the 1915 VCR in San Francisco CA. DePalma drove #22 Mercedes, finished in 4th place. Hearne drove a #21 Case ( mystery foto car is 21 ), finished in 11th place. So I’m thinking that Ralph & Eddie are posing next to Eddies car. I didn’t notice any #21 cars in the 1912 or 1915 Indy 500 lineups.
This is why I’m not sure if the mystery image is one of the Indy 500 or the 1915 VCR. 6 screenshots below with notes.
3 more screenshots.
I’m back - In the 1912 Indy 500, Eddie Hearne drove #6 Case auto, Hughie Hughes drove #21 Mercer auto. The driver next to DePalma doesn’t resemble Hughie at all, looks a lot more like Edward Hearne. So were they posing next to Hughie Hughes car??
One more time - 1915 Indy 500 - Thomas Orr #21 Mercer - finished in 13th place.,
Nice documentation, Art! I was all over the place with this mystery : )